19-21

Our Faithful Deliverer-Psalm 129, Revelation 21:1-4

6:00 PM

 



Today’s reading: Psalm 129, Revelation 21:1-4

 

We continue with the series of Psalms called “A Song of Ascents”, which were sung as the pilgrims came to Jerusalem to remember God’s many past deliverances (such as in the Feasts of Passover or Tabernacles), as they prayed confidently for God’s continued protection and the defeat of their many enemies. And as for us, a reminder that even our Lord Jesus Christ joined His voice with His disciples in the celebration of these festivities!

 

“Whereas most nations tend to look back on what they have achieved, Israel reflects here on what she has survived. It could be a disheartening exercise, for Zion still has its ill-wishers. But the singers take courage from the past, facing God with gratitude and their enemies with defiance.” (Derek Kidner)

 

As we read the first verses, the psalmist penned:

“Many times they have persecuted me (Israel) from my youth,” Let Israel now say, 2 “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me” (129:1-2)

 

“‘Many a time,’ Israel says, because she could not say how many times. She speaks of her assailants as ‘they,’ because it would be impossible to write or even to know all their names.” (Spurgeon)

Yes, from the time Israel was a people (from its youth in Egypt) countless times they had been under persecution and even unto this day! (Jeremiah 2:2, Ezekiel 23:3)

Our Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples (His Church) they too would be persecuted:

“And you will be hated by everyone because of (your association with) My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.” (Matt. 10:22, 2 Tim. 3:12), and this warning extends to us too!

As we continue reading the following verses the psalmist describes how terrible their afflictions have been, and as C.H Spurgeon explains:

 

“The afflicted nation was, as it were, lashed by her adversaries so cruelly that each blow left a long red mark, or perhaps a bleeding wound, upon her back and shoulders, comparable to a furrow which tears up the ground from one end of the field to the other.” (Spurgeon)

"The (enemies, like) plowers plowed upon my back; they made their furrows of suffering) long (in Israel)." (Psalm 129:3 AMP)

This brings to my mind our Lord Jesus’ suffering (before His crucifixion), who was also beaten unmercifully and flogged on his back until his skin was torn and bleeding profusely!! And this was a prolonged suffering until He gave His life on the cross!

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our wickedness (our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing); the punishment (required) for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. “(Isaiah 53:5 AMP)




Yes, we too as His people have been persecuted and afflicted by the enemy of our souls but let us remember that we must hold fast and persevere for:

"[He] who for the joy (of accomplishing the goal) set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work). 3 Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself (consider it all in comparison with your trials), so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2b-3 AMP)

Amen ladies! Let us not lose heart in the midst of our tribulations for just as He promised to preserve His covenant with His people of Israel, and His faithfulness in delivering them from the bondage of their enemies, and through Jesus Christ He has done the same for us! And this is a demonstration of His righteousness! The fact that the LORD is righteous means He has and will always keep His promises to Israel.

"The LORD is righteous; He has cut in two the (thick) cords of the wicked (which enslaved the people of Israel)." (Psalm 129:4 AMP)

We need not to curse our enemies (129:6-8), for Jesus has taught us to pray for them and our God and Deliverer will deal with them according to His justice! (Matt. 5: 43-48, Romans 12:14,19-21)

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for delivering us from our afflictions in the past and in the future, until you take us Home. O Father, thank you for cutting the cords of our enemy, delivering us from the bondage of sin through the precious Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus for taking our curse upon yourself (Galatians 3:13), so that we need not curse our enemies, but rather love them through You, with the love that You poured at the cross. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!

Blessings,

Mari



 





1 John 3:16

Our Mighty Deliverer - Psalm 124, 2 Samuel 5:17-25

11:00 AM

 

  


Today’s reading: Psalm 124, 2 Samuel 5:17-25

This psalm is titled “A Song of Ascents of David”. In Psalm 122:4 we find that the pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem to give thanks. In today’s Psalm we see David leading Israel to give thanks to God for the help for His deliverance from the past and to express their confidence in His continuing help for His people:

 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,”
Let Israel now say, 2 “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
When men rose up against us,” (124:1-2)

The Psalmist repeats the expression “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…”, which had a special significance, as C.H. Spurgeon explains:

 “This repetition is not in vain. For whilst we are in danger, our fear is without measure; but when it is once past, we imagine it to have been less than it was indeed. And this is the delusion of Satan, to diminish and obscure the grace of God.” (Luther, cited in Spurgeon)

Also the phrase ‘had been on our side’ (hayah lanu) is the past tense of Immanuel (‘God is with us’). Isn’t that amazing? He is and always will be with His people!

These first verses express the deliverance from the attack of men, most likely during the time of war and if it wasn’t for the Lord, the Psalmist expressed that:


“Then they would have [quickly] swallowed us alive, when their wrath was kindled against us; 4 Then the waters would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over our soul; 5 Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.” (124:3-5 AMP)

Although most of us have not had the experience of physically been fighting in a war, I can remember a couple of times I was fighting in a terrible spiritual war! (Ephesians 6:12)  I felt hopeless…. that there was no escape from my own mistakes; from the consequences of my sin and shame! I can picture myself like a little bird at the mercy of Satan who had me captive (as in a cage) and only until I cried for deliverance with a humble and repentant heart, the Lord heard and saved me! If it wasn’t for the Lord’s Saving Grace and forgiveness, I don’t know what would have been of my life!!


6 Blessed be the Lord, Who has not given us as prey to be torn by their teeth.7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The trap is broken and we have escaped.” (124:6-7)

-How about you: do you feel you are in the middle of a raging war and that your enemy has taken ground and is about to “swallow” you alive?

Let me encourage you to cry out to the Lord from the bottom of your heart, for as David mentions in these last verses:

8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (124:8)


He also made you for a special purpose! AND He loves you!

“By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath]” (1 John 4:10-11 AMP)


Remember Jesus said He would never leave us, nor forsake us! He is Immanuel, God with us! Jesus gave His precious life to deliver us from our enemy, for once and for all!


“By this we know [and have come to understand the depth and essence of His precious] love: that He [willingly] laid down His life for us [because He loved us]. And we ought to lay down our lives for the believers. (1 John 3:16 AMP)

Thank you Heavenly Father for Your amazing love for us! If it wasn’t for you Lord, if it wasn’t for you!! Thank you for rescuing our lives from perishing in the hands of our enemy! Forgive me for the times I feel there is no way of escaping the troubles I may be facing, forgetting that only in You I find the answer and the victory to my problems! Your Word teaches us that “You are love, and the one who abides in love abides in You, and You abide continually in us…” and that “17 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us (1 John 4:16b-17). May I continually seek you and abide in you! May I always display Your love to others, as You have loved us! In Jesus‘ Name we pray! Amen!

Mari